Inking mechanism for printing presses and the like



May 9, 1939. J CALCATERRA 2,157,256

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1937 ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES AND THE LIKE '7 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to inking mechanism for printing presses and the like.

Attempts have heretofore been made, as exemplified by the patents to Ray 701,221; Gally 733,023 and Thomas 1,135,075 to secure a more even or uniform distribution of the ink on the form or distribution rollers of a printing press through the use of a relatively short roller having a movement similar to the movement of the vibrator rollers in conventional printing presses. While the redistribution, in these efforts is improved as against inking mechanisms utilizing full-length vibrators, it has not been improved to the point of providing a layer of ink of uniform thickness on the form rollers at each and every impression, which has been found necessary in order to preclude the possibility of ghosts and "patterns being formed on the form. These ghosts and patterns, as-is well known to those skilled in the art, result from repeating on the form a section of the roller from which the ink film has already been removed.

The invention. accordingly has, as its primary object, thev provision of inking mechanism through the use of which a much more even or uniform distribution of ink on the form rollers of a printing press or the like can be attained than can possibly be attained through the use of existing inking mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the character described, through the use of which the adjustment of the press for even inking may be accomplished with the expenditure of considerably less time, effort and wastage of paper and ink than is possible with present inking mechanisms, and whereby a comparatively inexperienced pressman can adjust the press for satisfactory inking in less time and with better results than can be achieved by much more experienced pressmen with present mechanism.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the inking mechanism of my invention as employed in association with a printin'g press of the bed and cylinder type, such, for example as that disclosed in Honigmann Patent No. 1,774,272, although it is desired to direct attention at this point to the fact that the mechanism is susceptible with but slight modification, of being used in association with other cylinder presses, rotary, offset or platen presses,

. proof-presses, lithographic presses, and varnishing machines. 7

In said annexed drawing, Fig. l is a plan view of a portion of the press, with parts thereof removed to more clearly show the essential features of the inking mechanism; Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the redistributor roller, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the redistributor roller, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, showing the manner in which the frame links are secured to the frame.

Referring to said drawing, the press comprises a delivery conveyor frame similar to the frame 230 in the aforesaid Honigmann patent, this frame being pivoted, as on a shaft I journalled in the brackets 2 of the delivery table, so that the frame may be swung upwardly to permit access to the inking mechanism disposed therebelow.

One of the distributor rollers 3 of the inking mechanism is shown in the drawing, the balance of the inking mechanism since it is fully disclosed in the aforesaid patent, being omitted. This distributor roller is designed to receive ink from a suitable source, such as an ink fountain, and to transfer such ink onto inking rollers, which, in turn, are designed to contact with the form on the bed of the press.

The delivery conveyor framecarries a set of endless tapes that pass over rollers in the ends of the frame, and when the frame is in its normal operative position, the free end thereof rests upon and is temporarily secured to suitable abutments on the housings in which the ends of the cylinder of the press are journalled.

The frame comprises side members I and 5 and a cross-member 6, secured at its ends to the rear ends of said side members. Secured to the side members 4 and 5, intermediate the ends of the latter, as by cap screws 5a, which are in threaded engagement with the side members, (see Fig. 5) are links I and 8, which carry, at their lower ends, a cross-rod 9. The axis of this cross-rod is parallel with the axis of the distributor roller 3. By loosening the cap screws 5a, the links may be swung to any desired angular position with respect to the plane of the frame, to thereby vary the pressure or contact between the redistributor roller to be presently described and the distributor roller 3, without affecting the balance of the mechanism.

Mounted on and spaced somewhat from the cross-rod 9, as by bushings Ill brazed or otherwise secured to the ends thereof, is a hollow shaft ll. Mounted for rotation about this shaft is a short roller II, which I term a redistributor" roller. This roller is provided with internal bushings l2 at the ends thereof to facilitate rotation of the roller about the shaft ii. The roller i3 is maintained against endwise movement on the shaft H by means of collars I20 and I2!) which are secured to the shaft II as by set screws i2c. These collars are of somewhat smaller external diameter than the roller ll, so as to avoid engagement of the collars with the roller I when the roller II is reciprocated, as will be presently described. The collar l2bisprovided with radially extending lugs or ears I, which are apertured to receive a pivot pin II. The roller II is less than half, and preferably about one-third. the length of the distributor roller 3, and in cases where the roller 3 is a metallic roller, the roller I3 is preferably a composition roller. In cases where the roller 3 is a composition roller, the roller i2 is preferably a metallic roller.

The roller ll is thus free to rotate about the shaft H, being rotated by the roller I due to its frictional contact or engagement with the latter. At the same time that it is thus rotated, the roller i8 is postively reciprocated along the entire length of the roller 8 as a result of reciprocal movement of the hollow shaft ll. Reciprocal movement of the shaft H is accomplished by means of mechanism which will now be described.

Ihe shaft I. which carries and drives the rollers over which the delivery tapes run, is driven by the main shaft it of the press through the medium of a sprocket chain i1 and sprocket II. the sprocket being keyed to the shaft I. The shaft I extends beyond the side 4 of the delivery frame and has keyed to the end thereof a second sprocket l2. Sprocket is, through the medium of sprocket chain 22 drives a second sprocket 2|. Sprocket 2i is keyed to a stub shaft 22 journalled in a bracket 23 carried by the side member 4 of the frame. The stub shaft 22 has secured to its inner end a spur gear 24, which, through the medium of spur gear idler 2!, drives a spur gear 2. Spur gear 2' is secured to the outer end of a stub shaft 21 which is carried by the side frame member I. The shaft 21 has keyed to its inner end a worm 20 which is in mesh with and drives a worm gear 20. The worm gear 2. is iournalled for rotation about a vertical pin 82 mounted in a housing If extending from the side member 4 of the frame.

The worm gear 20 is provided with an eccentric pin 82 to which is pivotally secured one end of a pitman 33. The other end of this pitmanispivotallysecuredasbyapinlltoa lever 15. The lever 38 is pivotally secured as by a pin I! to the cross-member 6 of the frame at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, and is pivotally secured as by a pin 81 to one end of a link a. The other end of the link 38 is plvotally slured to the pin 1'.

It may be noted, at this point, that the elements 21 to II inclusive. as well 'as the elements 8 and I to II inclusive, are all in planes below the delivery frame proper, so that none of these elements interfere in any way with the operation of the delivery tapes.

It may also benoted that the redistributor roller .I, as the result of operation of the foregoing mechanism, is positively reciprocated along the rod 0. between the positions indicated in eolidanddotanddashlinesinl'lg.i,andthat 1 thisreciprocalmovementoftherollerisapflied to the roller along lines which are parallel or substantially parallel with the axis of the rod 9, thereby eliminating any tendency of this rod to bend, as the roller reciprocates. Consequently, the pressure ofthe roller IS on the roller 3 is more or less constant throughout the major portion of the movement of the roller i3.

It may be further noted that since the main shaft it from which substantially all of the operative parts of the press are driven, is driven throughout the operation of the press, the roller l3 will be continuously rotated by the roller 3 and positively and continuously reciprocated along the latter, throughout the entire period of operation of the press, i. e., throughout the printing operations.

Due to the fact that the roller is is a short roller, less than half the length of the roller 3, and is continuously rotated and positively and continuously re'ciprocated throughout the operation of the press, an even or uniform redistribution of the ink on the form rollers is secured. As a matter of fact, a layer of ink of substantially uniform thickness is formed on the form rollers and the possibility of ghosts" and patterns being formed on the form thereby precluded. Moreover, the adjustment of the press for even inking may be accomplished with the expenditure of considerably less time, effort, and wastage, of paper and ink than is possible with present inking mechanisms, so that a comparatively inexperienced pressmen can adjust the press for satisfactory inking in less time and with better results than can be achieved by much more experienced pressmen with present mechanisms, especially in cases where a complex form of heavy solids and light face type are unevenly distributed over the surface of the printing form.

The reciprocation of the redistributor roller is independent of the "rotation of the distributor roller or other rollers of the distributor roller assembly. Moreover, while it has been found desirable to so proportion the various parts of the mechanism as to cause one complete reciprocation of the redistributor roller for every press impression, in order to obtain a complete redistribution of the ink in the roller for every impression, uniform, satisfactory printing results may be obtained even when there is but one complete reciprocation of the redistributor roller for every three or four impressions, and this, in spite of rough adjustment of the fountain or the difficulties imposed by irregular or complex printing forms. The number of 'reciprocations for every press impression can be changed very easily, by simply changing the ratio of the gear train consisting of the gears 24, 25 and 26, or the number of teeth in the worm gear 29.

In cases where the distributor rollers are more than about 15 inches long, it is desirable to use more than one redistributor roller, the redistributor rollers in that event being spaced apart or timed so that they contact different sections along the length of the distributor roller at any given point of the operating cycle. Moreover, some increase in redistributory efllciency may be gained by using one or more redistributor rollers in association with more than one of the regular distributor rollers.

Other methods of reciprocating the redistributor roller may be employed than the one described. Moreover, the redistributor may be used in association with other rollers in the ink roller assembly, and may be used -in association with the mechanism of other cylinder Dresses.

rotary, offset or platen presses, proof-presses, lithographic presses and varnishing machines. The invention also is adapted for use in redistributing other substances than ink, such as paint, gum, etc.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated 'by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an inking mechanism for printing presses and the like, the combination of a distributor roller, a redistributor roller in rolling contact therewith, said redistributor roller being less than half the length of said distributor roller, and means for positively and continuously reciprocating said redistributor roller along substantially the entire length of said distributor roller throughout the operation of said press and at least once for four impressions of the press.

2. In an inking mechanism for printing presses and the like, the combination of a distributor roller, a redistributor roller in rolling contact therewith, said redistributor roller being less than half the length of said distributor roller, and means for positively and continuously reciprocating said redistributor roller along substantially the entire length of said distributor roller throughout the operation of said press, said redistributor roller being in constant contact with the distributor roller throughout said reciprocating movement.

3. In an inking mechanism for printing presses and the like, the combination of a distributor roller, a redistributor roller in rolling contact therewith, said redistributor roller being less than half the length of said distributor roller, and means for positively and continuously reciprocating said redistributor roller along substantially the entire length of said distributor roller throughout the operation of said press and at least once for four impressions of the press, the reciprocating Iorces being applied substantially in line with the axis of the redistrlbutor roller throughout the reciprocations thereof.

4. In a fluid distributing mechanism, the combination of a surface adapted to be coated with said fluid, a redistributor roller in contact with said surface, and means for reciprocating said roller transversely of said surface in such a manner as to cause any predetermined point on said roller to traverse more than half the width of said surface in each direction during each reciprocating stroke, said reciprocations being at the rate of at least one for every four cycles of operation of the unit with which the mechanism is associated.

5. In a fluid distributing mechanism, the combination of a fluid distributing roller, a redistributor roller in rolling contact therewith and means for reciprocating said redistributor roller along said distributor roller in such a manner as to cause any predetermined point on said redistributor roller to traverse more than half the length of said distributor roller in each direction during each reciprocating stroke, said reciprocations being at the rate of at least one for every .four cycles of operation of the unit with which the mechanism is associated.

6. In an inking or fluid distributing mechanism for printing presses and the like, the combination of a rotatable distributor roller, a redistributor roller in rolling contact therewith, said redistributor roller being less than half the length of said distributor roller and arranged with its axis substantially parallel with the axis of the latter, and means for positively and continuously reciprocating said redistributor roller along substantially the entire length of said distributor roller throughout the operation of said press and at least once for every ten press impressions, said redistributor roller being in constant contact with the distributor roller throughout said reciprocating movement.

7. In an inking or fluid distributing mechanism for printing presses and the like, the combination of a rotatable distributor roller, a redistributor roller in rolling contact therewith, and means for positively and continuously reciprocating said redistributor roller along said distributor roller in such a manner as to cause any point on said redistributor roller to move more than half the length of said distributor roller in each direction during each reciprocation, said means including mechanism for effecting at least one complete reciprocatory movement of the redistributor roller for every ten press impressions, and said redistributor roller being arranged with its axis sub stantially parallel with the axis of the distributor roller and being in constant contact with the latter throughout said reciprocating movement.

JOSEPH CAICATERRA. 

